Former Government minister Steve Norris claims the Tories can win back Brighton and Hove by targeting the gay vote.

Mr Norris, recently defeated by Ken Livingstone in the London mayoral election, canvassed gay and lesbian groups' views during a visit to the town.

He said the three Brighton and Hove seats, all lost to Labour in 1997, were important to his party's chances of winning the next general election.

Mr Norris, speaking at the Jarvis Preston Park Hotel, said: "We are now an inclusive party. These are three very diverse constituencies and we have to reach out to all groups.

"The Brighton and Hove seats are very important to us. They are a barometer of how we are doing nationally. If we win them, it shows we have learned the lessons of defeat in 1997."

Mr Norris, who predicted the date of the next general election would be May 3, 2001, visited a pub and toured the Gay Switchboard offices in Market Street, Brighton.

He spoke out against Section 28, part of the Local Government Act which bans the promotion of homosexuality in schools.

Mr Norris was invited to speak by David Gold, the prospective parliamentary candidate for the Brighton Pavilion constituency.

Mr Gold, who will have to overturn a majority of 13,181 to win back the seat, said: "It is important that gay voters do not have to choose between candidates who are tolerant or intolerant. They have a genuine choice now."